Coffee oil

Abstract

A process for improving coffee oil characterised in that the coffee oil is contacted, under conditions of agitation, with a solution of a strong mineral acid in a monohydric aliphatic alcohol containing from 1 to 3 carbon atoms and separating the oil layer from the alcohol layer.

I claim: 
     
       1. A process for improving coffee oil consisting essentially of contacting coffee oil, under conditions of agitation, with a solution of a strong mineral acid in a monohydric aliphatic alcohol containing from 1 to 3 carbon atoms and then separating the oil layer from the alcohol layer. 
     
     
       2. A process according to claim 1, wherein the mineral acid used is sulphuric acid. 
     
     
       3. A process according to claim 1, wherein the concentration of mineral acid in the alcohol is from 0.25 to 1.5% on a weight/volume basis. 
     
     
       4. A process according to claim 1, wherein the proportion of mineral acid to the oil is from 5 to 10 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of oil. 
     
     
       5. A process according to claim 1, wherein the alcohol used is methanol. 
     
     
       6. A process according to claim 1, wherein the concentration of oil in the alcohol is from 7.5 to 12.5 parts by weight per 100 parts by volume of alcohol. 
     
     
       7. A process according to claim 1, wherein the coffee oil is contacted with the alcoholic solution of the mineral acid at reflux.